News Stories

Mystics' Coach, General Manager Leave Team

By Kathy Orton
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, January 5, 2002; Page D01

The Washington Mystics announced the resignations of general manager Melissa McFerrin and first-year coach Tom Maher after individual meetings with each yesterday during which Washington Sports and Entertainment President Susan O'Malley expressed disappointment with last season.

"Management wasn't happy with last year," Maher said. "Melissa and myself were committed to staying to the plan for the long term. There were philosophical differences. . . . I don't begrudge management. I'm disappointed I didn't get an opportunity to make things right."

Asked if he resigned or was fired, Maher said, "I don't want to go there."

McFerrin did not return several phone messages yesterday. Assistant coach Marianne Stanley is expected to remain with the team and is considered a leading candidate to be the head coach and possibly even the general manager.

O'Malley, who indicated at the end of last season that she would conduct a thorough evaluation of the team, said she would like to have a general manager in place soon because the Mystics have two first-round picks in the April 19 draft.

"I would like to move fairly quickly, but I proceed with caution," O'Malley said. "I don't have a successor in mind."

In a statement issued by the organization, O'Malley said, "I want to thank Tom and Melissa for their time and effort on behalf of the Mystics. We appreciate the hard work and dedication they gave to the Mystics and wish them well in the future."

McFerrin, who began her tenure with the organization as an assistant under then-coach Nancy Darsch in 1999, replaced Wes Unseld as general manager on May 15, 2000. During her brief tenure, she hired Maher and selected guard Coco Miller in the first round of last year's draft.

Less than a month ago, McFerrin traded away two-time Olympian and three-time all-star Nikki McCray, one of the team's original members and most popular player.

Maher, the first foreign coach in the WNBA, joined the Mystics in December 2000 after leading the Australian team to a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics. He was unsuccessful in making the transition from the international arena to the WNBA.

Despite six Olympians and two all-stars on their roster, the Mystics finished 10-22 and tied for the league's worst record.

Maher said he and his family have not decided whether they will remain in the United States or return to Australia.

"Both Melissa and myself were taken by surprise," Maher said. "It just came out of the blue."

Stanley was a highly successful coach at Old Dominion, where she won three national championships, second in women's basketball history to Pat Summitt's six at Tennessee. Stanley also coached at California and Stanford and was an assistant to Michael Cooper with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.

In its four seasons as an WNBA franchise, Washington has had two general managers and five coaches -- Jim Lewis, Cathy Parson, Darsch, Darrell Walker and Maher. Only one coach -- Maher -- has started and finished a season. Forward Murriel Page is the only player remaining on the roster from the Mystics' inaugural season.

This turnover has made winning difficult. Although attendance figures have remained strong, O'Malley realizes the fans likely will not remain patient.

The recent success of the Wizards has made success for the Mystics seem attainable, too.

"Winning feels good with the Wizards," O'Malley said. "I'd like to make it contagious."

© 2002 The Washington Post Company

Printed without permission from the Washington Post website. Read the story along with additional history on this story at the Washington Post website.

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